Liam Aiken as Harry Potter?

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By Brian Linder

Hollywood hasn't exactly done wonders for British/U.S. relations recently.¿ Many Brits have been in a huff over the "historically inaccurate" portrayal of England in the Revolutionary War film The Patriot.¿ Now it seems Warner Brothers may have added more fuel to the fire.¿ The British press is up in arms about the possibility that an American, 10-year-old Liam Aiken, may be cast as Harry Potter.¿ The UK's Daily Express, and several other UK papers, are reporting that Aiken has been given the highly coveted role.¿ The Express reports that Warner Brothers refused to confirm the casting of young Liam, but their sources have supposedly discovered that he was offered the role at the personal insistence of director Chris Columbus.¿ Aiken has worked with Columbus before, as Liam played Ben, a young boy who just happens to be obsessed with magic, in the 1998 Julia Roberts drama Stepmom.¿

A "studio source" told the paper, "The deal is all but done and dusted.¿ The bottom line is that Columbus' contract stipulates that he has the final say over all casting decisions and he's got the actor he wants. Liam actually has a British mother but he is as American as apple pie."¿

There were reports of Aiken chasing the role as far back as April.¿ Cinescape's Cindy Pearlman talked with Aiken about the role.¿ "I've been chasing the Potter role for a year," he said.¿ Aiken related that he hadn't yet talked to Director Chris Columbus about the possibility (remember this was back in April), but said, "I'm going to be filming soon in San Francisco, and Chris lives there, so I hope we become best friends!" Aiken also shared his feelings that he's just right for the role, "In the first book and in the movie, Potter is 9 to 10, which means I'm the perfect age.¿ My mom said I really do look like him."

Don't put all your pennies on one pony just yet though.¿ On Monday, Ain't It Cool News posted what their source claims is a brief Q&A with J.K. Rowling that took place Monday that seems to debunk the Aiken rumors. Their source reported cornered Rowling at a reading at Waterstones Piccadilly in London, and asked, "Is there any truth in the casting of Liam Aiken as Harry Potter?" ¿ to which Jo Rowling replied, "Who?"¿ Rowling supposedly went on to say "Harry has still not been cast yet. And believe me, he's going to be British when he is!" When asked if she still had confidence in Chris Columbus as the film's director she replied, "Some confidence. That sounds terrible, doesn't it? Nearly all the parts have been cast for the film. Only Harry and a few others remain to be done yet."

This latest round of Aiken rumors come on the heels of UK casting director Susie Figgis' somewhat dramatic departure from the project. The Daily Express report claims that Figgis quit because she felt that the director and the studio, were determined to cast an American in the leading role for purely commercial reasons.¿¿

The British press speculates that the Potter casting search may indeed have been a ploy to appease Potter creator and Executive Producer J.K. Rowling, who has been adamant that a British boy be cast in the role. Others speculate that it might partly have been a massive publicity stunt.

There is more to this intriguing saga.¿ Apparently, the UK casting search, legit or not, is still going on.¿ (Remember, purple text denotes rumors.)¿ IGN FilmForce sources say that 4 young boys have apparently been called back for screentests that will take place in London on Wednesday. Warner Bros. has reportedly clued the Harry hopefuls and their parents in on the offer they may be getting.¿ The rumored offer is in the seemingly ludicrous range of ¿75,000 (roughly $112,000 USD) for the first film and ¿150,000 (roughly $224,000 USD) for the second film, with absolutely no merchandising rights. This offer seems remarkably low considering the potential fortune that the film could make for the studio.¿ We stress that this is unconfirmed rumor, but if it's true Warner Bros. should be ashamed.¿ The kid should get a bigger piece of the pie!¿

FilmForce sources also claim that Warner Bros. will give the chosen young actor a contract for the first two films, while reserving the right to pull out after the first film.¿ However, the studio is hoping things go well enough to use the same young actor in all future Potter films (potentially one each year for the next 7 years).

Stay tuned to IGN FilmForce for the latest on Harry Potter casting!

-- Brian Linder thinks WB marketing could take a lesson from Lucasfilm's Episode II site on how to get fans excited by more frequently revealing developments on the film.